Locking device for boxes or envelops.



G. J AGKSON. LOGKING DEVICE EUR BOXES 0R ENvELoEs. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1910.

1 ,000,006, Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

CDLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFIQEL.

CHARLES JACKSON, OE BIRKENI-EAD, ENGLAND.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR BOXES OR ENVELOPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAnLrs JACKSON, subject of the King of Great 'Britain and Ireland, residing at 95 lVoodchurch road, Birkenhead, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Boxes or Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved mechanism whereby a two part envelop or box may be provided with a. locking device, such, that when the two parts of the envelop or box have been closed in a given position the envelop or box will be permanently locked in such manner that it will be impossible to open the package without leaving evidence that it has been so opened.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l. is a' view showing a box or envelop constructed of two parts adapted to slide one within the other, each part being provided with an element of the locking device constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2. is a separated view of the two elements of the locking device shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3. is a view partly in section and to an enlarged scale of the same locking device, the elements of which are here shown as in their permanently engaged position. Fig. 4. is an analogous view to Fig. 3. showing a modified form of the locking device.

As shown, the box consists of two parts l and 2 adapted to be slid together in such manner that the one part shall completely or in part envelop the other. To either one of the parts of the box, but preferably to that part which slides into the other part, which in the illustration will be a part 2, I tix one element 3 of the locking device. This element 3 is formed either throughout its length, or merely at the upper part thereof, as a tube 4, and the lower part of the element 3 is provided with an attaching plate 5 for aiiixing the element to the box. By means of this plate 5 the element is preferably secured to the end 6 of the box as shown. The tubular portion of the locking element 3 is cut, and the cut portions of the wall of the tube are then pressed inwardly or indented to form tongues or pawls 7 which project obliquely into the bore of the tube 4. To the other part l of the box is aiiixed the other element 8 of the locking device. This consists of a rod provided with Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 1, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Serial No. 569,992.

an attaching plate 9 similar to that on the other element whereby the rod 8 may be secured to the other end l0 of the box. The rod is made an easy sliding tit in the bore of the tube 4 and cuts or indentations are formed in the rod 8 so as to form recessed abutments or shoulders 1l therein. These recessed abutments ll are adapted to be engaged by the pawls or tongues 7, the position of the elements 3 and 3 being so arranged in the respective halves of the box that the point of the rod will engage the mouth of the tube 4 when the two parts of the box are engaged, the rod 8 sliding into the interior of the tube 4 when the parts of the box are pressed home. llVhen the box is completely shut the abutments 11 are engaged by the tongues 7 and owing to the oblique disposition of these tongues and their flexibility they permit the rod 8 to slide past them until they spring into the recesses ll and lock against the shoulders therein, but prevent the rod from being withdrawn and consequently the box from being opened. As the locking device is completely inclosed by the box when shut it is quite inaccessible and cannot possibly be unfastened or disengaged without permanently destroying' the box or leaving evidence that the same has been tampered with.

Instead of forming the tube 4 with a series of indented tongues as previously described, the interior of the tube may be annularly ribbed or grooved as indicated at l2 Fig. 4. and a series of saw tooth or other serrations 13 formed in the rod 8. These serrations are cut in the rod in the manner of ratchet teeth so that the flexibility of the tube 4 will permit of the teeth being entered in one direction but the square shoulders of the teeth will bind against the ribs or grooves in the tube should the rod tend to be withdrawn in the opposite direction. It is proposed to provide the tube and rod with a greater number of engaging teeth or abutments in this form than that shown in Fig. 3.'so that the device would lock at any position of the rod 8 within the tube 4. In order to allow of the boxes fitted with such types of locking device being put up in their closed position without liability of their being permanently locked, the locking elements are preferably disposed to one side of each part of the box as indicated in Figs. l and 2, and with such a construction by reversing the parts of the box the parte may be slid into one another Without fear of their being permanently engaged.

In all of these forms when once the box or envelop has been closed, and the elements of the locking device become engaged, it becomes impossible to open the box Without permanently destroying it, and in this way any fraudulent tampering with the package may be readily detected.

I claim:

In a locking device for two part package, the combination with the sections of the package, of a tubular member having an angular extension secured to the inner end Wall of one of said Sections of the package, the said tubular member having an engaging device therein, a rod having an angular extension secured to the inner end Wall of the companion section of the pac rage in 20 CHARLES JACKSON.

fitnesses z A. J. DAVIES, J. MCCORMICK.

Copies 0f this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 0f Patents. Washington, D. C. 

